Energy Conversion and Storage in Solid-state Photogalvanic Cells

Abstract

Abstract The solid-state photogalvanic cells involving photochemically deposited metals as active materials are presented. As these cells have many excellent features as compared with usual photogalvanic cells in which both the cathodic and anodic materials are dissolved in solution, they will promise a novel storage system for the conversion of solar energy to electrical energy. A typical two-compartment cell: TiO2, aqueous Ce(SO4)2–Ce2(SO4)3||aqueous AgNO3, Pt could be charged by the irradiation of 300–400 nm light on TiO2. The deposited silver on a platinum black storage electrode has almost the same electrochemical properties as the silver metal electrode and is capable of recharging after a nearly complete discharge.